Reform still not accepted

[NewsWhore]

The Sports Ministry, leading Dominican company E. Leon Jimenes, the Presidente beer brewery and 26 other entities have now joined the outcry against the proposed fiscal reform, according to Hoy newspaper. Ever since its announcement, the fiscal reform has been the subject of criticism from both the public and private sectors, uniting most sectors against the plan. Each group spoke about how the reform would affect them individually. Sports Ministry (SEDEFIR) representative Francisco Antonio Medina said that article 36 of the reform should be changed so that SEDEFIR can continue to collect on 50% of taxes that gambling houses pay. That is RD$220,000 on an operating permit and RD$12,000 monthly fees for gambling houses in the country's main provinces. Mario Pujols, speaking on behalf of the National Dominican Brewery called for the current taxation on alcoholic beverages to be maintained, while Manuel Brugal, speaking on behalf of the Brugal Rum Company disagreed, arguing that the current system places the rum distributor at a disadvantage. As from 2008, beverages will be taxed depending on the size and not the grade of alcohol that the beverage contains. Abel Wachsmann, executive vice president of E. Leon Jimenes said that the fiscal reform, and its ad valorem policy goes against the objectives of the IMF which aims to prevent the situation where the tax structure influences the consumers choice to purchase. Hortensia Perez, speaking on behalf of the Association of Representatives of Importers of Wines and Liquors, said that the country would be subject to lawsuits by the World Trade Organization, because of these types of taxes.

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